NBA

The second round of the NBA Draft is always an exercise in annual insanity as players are stashed, traded and dumped, giving onlookers surprise selections around every corner. Understandably, the build-up to the draft tends to focus sharply on the lottery and those expected to make a major difference from their very first professional games.

It appears as though the Houston Rockets’ second-round playoff loss to the Golden State Warriors could inspire major changes in Space City. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Rockets general manager Daryl Morey “has made his entire roster and future draft picks available in trade talks, a dramatic initiative with hopes of reshaping the team

With the NBA Draft now only two weeks away — as is always the case — it is prime time for pundits, fans and even front offices to over-index the value of high draft picks. But one misnomer that’s subconsciously reiterated year-after-year is that the majority of value in the draft often comes in the

Will an NBA Finals berth be enough to convince Kawhi Leonard to re-sign with the Toronto Raptors in free agency this summer? Next to Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard figures to be the most hotly pursued player on this summer’s free-agent market. Fresh off an all-time great postseason run, Leonard has re-established himself as being among

When news broke that the Warriors had signed DeMarcus Cousins last July, it felt excessive, like an indulgent luxury, not the kind of necessity that defines most offseason moves. The Warriors already had four All-Stars on their roster and now they were adding a fifth. The Warriors had made it a point to not only

With the NBA Draft now only two weeks away — as is always the case — it is prime time for pundits, fans and even front offices to over-index the value of high draft picks. But one misnomer that’s subconsciously reiterated year-after-year is that the majority of value in the draft often comes in the

Coming into college, Romeo Langford was a five-star recruit and the second-ranked shooting guard in the country. At New Albany High School in his hometown, the Indiana native decided to play all four years there instead of choosing the prep school route. Langford’s natural ability to score the ball and make plays for others garnered

Coming into college, Romeo Langford was a five-star recruit and the second-ranked shooting guard in the country. At New Albany High School in his hometown, the Indiana native decided to play all four years there instead of choosing the prep school route. Langford’s natural ability to score the ball and make plays for others garnered

The Miami Heat are masters at developing wing players and should be able to pick up an interesting one in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Miami Heat don’t get enough credit for their development staff. They might be one of the best teams in the league at developing talent, routinely extracting the best out of

Where Kevin Durant decides to sign in free agency this summer will shape the landscape of NBA title contenders for years to come. For the past three years, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors have run rampant over the rest of the NBA. This summer, that all may change. Durant is set

Each week, four of Basketball Insiders’ top writers will break down the latest news and notes surrounding the 2019 NBA Draft. With every new version, you’ll see an updated mock draft that reflects how each writer sees the draft landscape based on the latest news, workouts, and information from the pre-draft process as well as

TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 29: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors talks with Singers Drake (R) and Baka Not Nice (L) following an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on November 29, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using

It’s going to be a busy next few weeks for Kerwin Roach II. The senior point guard from Texas is in the process of preparing for the NBA Draft on June 20. He’s already had a workout with the Charlotte Hornets, attended the Portsmouth Invitational and he took part in the Pro Basketball Combine last

The 2019 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching. It is now a mere 19 days away and, as is often the case, a lot is left to be sorted out in the final three weeks. While all teams must make a final decision on each of their picks in the draft, there are a few decisions

The Chicago Bulls need point guard and wing help, two things they will have options for with the No. 7 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Chicago Bulls were very bad last year, winning just 22 games in a year marred by the firing of coach Fred Hoiberg and the subsequent antics of interim-turned-current

It looked dicey for a moment, but the Warriors surged in the third quarter of Game 2 to even the NBA Finals. Through six quarters of the 2019 NBA Finals the Golden State Warriors had yet to have a moment that put their stamp on the series. Game 1 saw a raucous Toronto crowd cheer

The 2019 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching. It is now a mere 19 days away and, as is often the case, a lot is left to be sorted out in the final three weeks. While all teams must make a final decision on each of their picks in the draft, there are a few decisions

The Toronto Raptors are making their first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals. The key to them claiming the title as their own? Defense. For the last few years, there was a LeBron James-sized hump that the Toronto Raptors couldn’t seem to get over. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry revitalized the franchise and former head coach

Houston, we have a problem. Yeah, it’s an overdone cliche, but when is it not fitting to tie that quote into any problems going on in the Houston area? For the Rockets, it appears that things are not all too peachy at the moment. Despite both another MVP-caliber performance by James Harden and another hard-fought

The 2019 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching. It is now a mere 19 days away and, as is often the case, a lot is left to be sorted out in the final three weeks. While all teams must make a final decision on each of their picks in the draft, there are a few decisions

The Cleveland Cavaliers landed the No. 5 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, which was disappointing. But it might work in their favor. The Cleveland Cavaliers enter an interesting offseason in 2019. Their first season without LeBron James didn’t go well at all, resulting in just 19 wins, and instead of winning the draft lottery

Houston, we have a problem. Yeah, it’s an overdone cliche, but when is it not fitting to tie that quote into any problems going on in the Houston area? For the Rockets, it appears that things are not all too peachy at the moment. Despite both another MVP-caliber performance by James Harden and another hard-fought

Whether he’s massaging Nick Nurse, trolling Steph Curry, or talking trash with Draymond Green, Drake is living the life of a fan we wish we all had. For those of us not part of the Illuminati, putting ourselves into the game the way Drake has in the NBA playoffs is just a dream. Drake doesn’t

The Washington Wizards will look to add a promising young talent that can help dig them out of roster limbo with the Ninth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Washington Wizards will enter the 2019 offseason with perhaps the bleakest outlook of any team in the NBA. The team’s franchise centerpiece, John Wall, tore

It’s funny how life works, isn’t it? For the first month of the playoffs, including two full series and half of the games played in the Eastern Conference Finals, Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet was mired in one of the worst shooting slumps in his NBA career. Aside from the postseason opening loss to the

In the first NBA Finals game in franchise history, the Raptors took a 1-0 lead over Golden State behind a career game from Pascal Siakam. The Raptors won both of their regular-season meetings with the Warriors — one in a thrilling overtime finish and one in a blowout — but the results proved no more

It’s funny how life works, isn’t it? For the first month of the playoffs, including two full series and half of the games played in the Eastern Conference Finals, Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet was mired in one of the worst shooting slumps in his NBA career. Aside from the postseason opening loss to the

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 21: Chris Paul #3 and James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets stand for the national anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 21, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this

The NBA Finals start tomorrow. Let’s dig in on the major questions that will define the series and decide which of the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors will be crowned champions. Will Kevin Durant return during this series? If so, when? And in what condition will his game and body be? In some ways,